Claudio Ranieri plays down Jamie Vardy-Sergio Aguero comparison

04 February 2016 03:53

Saturday's top-of-the-table clash between Leicester and Manchester City will see Jamie Vardy and Sergio Aguero go head-to-head but Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri thinks comparisons between the two strikers are unfair.

Vardy's exploits in front of goal this season - he has 18 Premier League goals - have been pivotal to Leicester's surprise title challenge and the 29-year-old is in talks about a new improved contract to keep him at the King Power Stadium until 2019. His existing deal expires in 2018.

He heads to the Etihad Stadium top of the scoring charts, a position Aguero has often occupied since his arrival in England from Atletico Madrid four and a half years ago.

Ranieri said: "Sergio Aguero, every year. Jamie just one. I hope he does it next season, next season, next season for us.

"Jamie is playing very well and he links very well with his team-mates but he must improve."

Asked if there was any progress with Vardy's new contract, the Italian said: "I don't ask. He trains well every day and this is okay.

"This is normal, the strikers in every team earn more."

Both Vardy and Aguero were on target again in midweek as Leicester maintained their three-point cushion over City at the Premier League summit.

Vardy's two goals against Liverpool, the first a stunning 35-yard volley from the right side of the penalty area, gave Leicester successive wins for the first time since the week before Christmas, while Aguero netted in a 1-0 victory at Sunderland.

He said: "It's incredible what Vardy did. He watched the ball, watched the opponent and watched the keeper. It's amazing, fantastic.

"I can put him with Van Basten when he makes a fantastic goal. I don't know if you watched (Francesco) Totti when he scored against Sampdoria (in 2006). They are amazing goals."

Saturday's clash at the Etihad Stadium sees the team with the best home record take on the team with the best away record and Ranieri, who could have recent signing Daniel Amartey available for the first time against City, is expecting an open game.

"Both teams want to win," he said. "They have to win, we have to win and enjoy. It is two different tasks. But I think it will be (an open match)."